Two-dimensional code recognition processing method, two-dimensional code recognition processing apparatus, and two-dimensional code recognition processing program storage medium

1. A two-dimensional code recognition processing method for recognizing a two-dimensional code made of a plurality of square cells arranged in accordance with predetermined layout rules, the method comprising the steps of: recognizing code data assigned to said two-dimensional code, from externally captured image information; and linking said plurality of code data to generate expanded code data, if a plurality of code data are recognized successively over time in said recognizing step, or if a plurality of code data are recognized from the same image information in said recognizing step, wherein said recognizing step comprises the step of recognizing said code data assigned to said two-dimensional code as well as layout information about said two-dimensional code from said externally captured image information; and said linking step comprises the step of determining priorities of said plurality of code data based on said layout information recognized in said recognizing step in order to link said plurality of code data in accordance with the priorities thus determined.

2. A two-dimensional code recognition processing method for recognizing a two-dimensional code made of a plurality of square cells arranged in accordance with predetermined layout rules, the method comprising the steps of: recognizing code data assigned to said two-dimensional code, from externally captured image information; and linking said plurality of code data to generate expanded code data, if a plurality of code data are recognized successively over time in said recognizing step, or if a plurality of code data are recognized from the same image information in said recognizing step, wherein said recognizing step comprises the steps of: generating binary data from said externally captured image information in accordance with a predetermined threshold value; detecting a reference cell serving as a reference in recognizing said two-dimensional code based on said binary data generated in said binary data generating step; detecting corner cells each located in a predetermined search range with respect to said reference cell detected in said reference cell detecting step, on the basis of said binary data generated in said binary data generating step; and detecting code data assigned to said two-dimensional code existing in an area of a code part surrounded by said reference cell and by said corner cells on the basis of said binary data generated in said binary data generating step.

3. A two-dimensional code recognition processing method according to claim 2, wherein said reference cell is made of a rectangular black pixel contiguous region which has a predetermined aspect ratio and which includes readable information in hollowed letters related to said two-dimensional code; and said reference cell detecting step further detects the rectangular reference cell having said predetermined aspect ratio and including said readable information.

4. A two-dimensional code recognition processing method according to claim 3, wherein said readable information is a logo mark attached to a code scheme of said two-dimensional code.

5. A two-dimensional code recognition processing apparatus for recognizing a two-dimensional code made of a plurality of square cells arranged in accordance with predetermined layout rules, said apparatus comprising: recognizing means for recognizing code data assigned to said two-dimensional code, from externally captured image information; and linking means used if a plurality of code data are recognized successively over time by said recognizing means, or if a plurality of code data are recognized from the same image information by said recognizing means, said linking means thereupon linking said plurality of code data to generate expanded code data, wherein said recognizing means recognizes said code data assigned to said two-dimensional code as well as layout information about said two-dimensional code from said externally captured image information, and said linking means determines priorities of said plurality of code data based on said layout information recognized by said recognizing means in order to link said plurality of code data in accordance with the priorities thus determined.

6. A two-dimensional code recognition processing apparatus for recognizing a two-dimensional code made of a plurality of square cells arranged in accordance with predetermined layout rules, said apparatus comprising: recognizing means for recognizing code data assigned to said two-dimensional code, from externally captured image information; and linking means used if a plurality of code data are recognized successively over time by said recognizing means, or if a plurality of code data are recognized from the same image information by said recognizing means, said linking means thereupon linking said plurality of code data to generate expanded code data, wherein said recognizing means generates binary data from said externally captured image information in accordance with a predetermined threshold value, detects a reference cell serving as a reference in recognizing said two-dimensional code based on said binary data, detects corner cells, each located in a predetermined search range with respect to said reference cell, on the basis of said binary data, and detects code data assigned to said two-dimensional code existing in an area of a code part surrounded by said reference cell and by said corner cells on the basis of said binary data.

7. A two-dimensional code recognition processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said reference cell is made of a rectangular black pixel contiguous region which has a predetermined aspect ratio and which includes readable information in hollowed letters related to said two-dimensional code, and wherein said recognizing means further detects the rectangular reference cell having said predetermined aspect ratio and including said readable information.

8. A two-dimensional code recognition processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said readable information is a logo mark attached to a code scheme of said two-dimensional code.

9. A two-dimensional code recognition processing program storage medium for storing a two-dimensional code recognition processing program in a manner executable by a computer, said two-dimensional code recognition processing program comprising the steps of: recognizing code data assigned to said two-dimensional code, from externally captured image information; and linking said plurality of code data to generate expanded code data, if a plurality of code data are recognized successively over time in said recognizing step, or if a plurality of code data are recognized from the same image information in said recognizing step, wherein said recognizing step comprises the step of recognizing said code data assigned to said two-dimensional code as well as layout information about said two-dimensional code from said externally captured image information, and said linking step comprises the step of determining priorities of said plurality of code data based on said layout information recognized in said recognizing step in order to link said plurality of code data in accordance with the priorities thus determined.

10. A two-dimensional code recognition processing program storage medium for storing a two-dimensional code recognition processing program in a manner executable by a computer, said two-dimensional code recognition processing program comprising the steps of: recognizing code data assigned to said two-dimensional code, from externally captured image information; and linking said plurality of code data to generate expanded code data, if a plurality of code data are recognized successively over time in said recognizing step, or if a plurality of code data are recognized from the same image information in said recognizing step, wherein said recognizing step comprises the steps of: generating binary data from said externally captured image information in accordance with a predetermined threshold value; detecting a reference cell serving as a reference in recognizing said two-dimensional code based on said binary data generated in said binary data generating step; detecting corner cells each located in a predetermined search range with respect to said reference cell detected in said reference cell detecting step, on the basis of said binary data generated in said binary data generating step; and detecting code data assigned to said two-dimensional code existing in an area of a code part surrounded by said reference cell and by said corner cells on the basis of said binary data generated in said binary data generating step.

11. A two-dimensional code recognition processing program storage medium according to claim 10, wherein said reference cell is made of a rectangular black pixel contiguous region which has a predetermined aspect ratio and which includes readable information in hollowed letters related to said two-dimensional code, and said reference cell detecting step further detects the rectangular reference cell having said predetermined aspect ratio and including said readable information.

12. A two-dimensional code recognition processing program storage medium according to claim 11, wherein said readable information is a logo mark attached to a code scheme of said two-dimensional code.